Relay.



S. M. LUCAS. RELAY.

APPLICATION FILED FIE 8.14.1917. 1 72,973. Patented J111y16,1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.-

' INVENTOR WITNESSES:

7W BY Z M ATTORNEY s. M. LIUCAS.

RELAY.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 14. 191]. 1,272,973. Patented July 16, 1918. 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

IN V EN TOR.

BY 'Z' ATTORNEY S. M. LUCAS.

RELAY.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. I4. I917v 1,272,973.

WITNESSES.- 9 4h 7 BY 4- balla M ATTORNEY.

Patented July 16, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- samn'nn 1V1. LUCAS, or PITTSBURGH, PE

NNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE UNION SWITCH & SIGNAL COMPANY, OF SWISSVALE, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENN- SYLVANIA.

RELAY.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patentea July 16 1918 Application filed February 14, 1917. Serial No. 148,649.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, SAMUEL M. LUoAs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Reays, of-which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to relays, and particularly to relays of the type wherein the contacts are controlled by a centrifugal device which in turn is operated by a motor. Onefeature of my invention is the provision of a relay of this character the contacts of which are operated to one position or an,- other according as the centrifugal device is rotated in one direction or the other by the motor.

I will describe several forms of relays em bodying my invention, and will then point out the novel features thereof in claims. In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 1s a view showing one form of relay embodying my invention, and also showing diagranunatically one manner of applying the relay to a'railway signaling system. Fig. 2 is a view showing a modification of the relay shown in Fig. 1 and also embodying my invention. Figs. 3 and 4 are views showing still another modification of the relay shown in Fig. 1, and likewise embodying my in vention.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts in each of the several views.

Referring first to Fig. l, the relay in the form here shown comprises an electric motor M of the two phase induction type having a rotor 1. and two stator windings 2 and 2 The rotor 1, of course, revolves in one direction or the other, depending on the phase relations of the currents in the two stator windings. Operatively connected with the rotor 1 is a U-shaped yoke 3, whereby this yoke is rotated in one direction or the other around a Vertical axis. Pivotally mounted on a horizontal axis in this yoke is a centrifugal device C, comprising a rod 4 and two weights 5 and 5 the pivotal mounting of this device is accomplished by attaching a shaft 6 to the bar 1 intermediate the ends of the latter, which shaft 6 is suitably journaled in the upstanding arms of the yoke.

, Thetwo weights are attached to the rod on opposite sides of the pivotal point.- It will be seen from the. foregoing that the yoke 3 in one end of a link 8.

through a ball-and-socket universal joint 10 with an arm 9, which arm is fixed to a contact-operating bar 11. The bar 11 is journaled to swing in twofixed arms 12 and 12 which are attached to the framework or inclosing casing (not shown) .of the relay. It will be seen, therefore, that as the centrifugal device 0 swings in one direction or the other from the vertical position in which it is shown, the contact bar 11 will be rocked in one direction or the other from the horizontal position in which it is shown except when the movement of the centrifugal device is within the range of lost motion permitted by the p-in-and-slot connection The bar 11 may be employed to control any numb-er of contacts in any desired manner. As here shown, this bar carries a contact member 13 having two contact fingers 15 and 15, one at each end, which fingers coto close contact le -15 The bar 11 is biased to the horizontal or intermediate position by a counterweight device comprising two weights 16 and 16 which Weights cooperate with two arms 18 and 18 attached to the bar 11 and projecting on opposite sides therefrom. The weights are provided with books 17 and 17 tively, by which they are suspended from a cross-arm 19 attached rigidly to the arm 12. The adjustment of this counter-weight ing device is such that when the bar 11 oc= cupies its intermediate position, each weight rests partly on the cross-arm 19 and partly on the corresponding arm 18 or 18 Then when the bar is rocked in either direction, one weight is raised by arm 18 or 18*, while respecthe other weight is left suspended from the will. be returned to the intermediate position by the weight which was raised by arm 18 or 18*.

Inasmuch as the bar 11 is operatively connected with the centrifugal device C through link 8 etc., it is evident that the counterweight device serves also to bias the centrifugal device to an intermediate position,

within the limit-s imposed by the pin-andslot connection between arm 7 and link 8. This intermediate position is the position wherein rotation of the yoke 3 around its vertical axis produces no centrifugal action tending to swing the centrifugal device G about its horizontal pivotal axis. In the form here shown,this intermediate position is the position wherein the longitudinal axis of the rod 4 lies in the axis of rotation of yoke 3.

It will now be apparent that unless. other means are provided, when yoke 3 is rotated the centrifugal device will remain in its intermediate position if ithappens to occupy exactly that position when the rotation begins, or it may swing in one direction or the other about its pivotal axis depending on whether it is slightly inclined from its intermediate position on one side or the other when rotation begins. To control-the centrifugal device, I provide positive means for initially swinging the device on its pivotal axis in one direction or the other from the intermediate position, according as yoke 3 p is rotated in one direction or the other. In

the form shown in Fig. 1, this means comprises two arms 20 and-20 rigidly attached to centrifuge bar 4 and projecting on opposite sides therefrom, which arms carry fan blades 21 and 21 respectively. These fan blades are so arranged that they tend to swing the centrifugal device in opposite directions on its pivotal axis 6, according to the direction of rotation of the yoke 3; for example, the blades may both be in one plane, which plane is inclined at an angle to the axis of the trunnions 6.

The purpose of the pin-and-slot connection between arm 7 and link 8 is to avoid the necessity for making the fan blades 21, 21 sufliciently large to initiate the movement of the bar 11 and the counterweighting device away from the intermediate position; by virtue of the pin-and-slot connection, the fan blades need be only large enough to swing the centrifugal device from either inclined position, wherein pin 7 rests in one end or the other of slot 8, past the dead center or absolute intermediate position, when rotation of yoke 3 is started in such direction that such movement of the centrifugal device is required.

The operation of the relay shown in Fig. 1 is as follows: a

When the motor M is at rest, the contact bar 11 is biased by the counterweighting device to its intermediate position, wherein both of the contacts controlled thereby are open, and the centrifugal device 0 is .likewise biased to its intermediate position or nearly so, due also to the action of the counterweighting device. \Vhen the motor M starts to rotate in one direction, it of course starts rotation of yoke 3 and centrifugal device C. The fan blades 21 and 21 then initially swing the centrifugal device away from its intermediate position in one direction, whereupon the centrifugal action carries the centrifugal device farther in the same direction, so that contact bar 11 is swung in one direction from its intermediate position to close one of the contacts 1l-15 or 14 15 The centrifugal action on the centrifugal device C 'is suflicient to exert the proper amount of contact pressure to insure a good contact between the'fixed block and the movable cont-act finger. If now the direction of rotation of the motor M is reversed, the motor first comes to rest sothat the centrifugal device 0 is returned substan-' other contact 14-15 or 14 15 It will be seen from the foregoing that the contact bar 11 is swung in one direction or the other to close one contact or the other depending upon the direction of rotation of the motor M, and thatthe operation of the contact bar 11 is accomplished by centrifugal action on the centrifugal device C.

In Fig. l I have also shown one manner of utilizing the relay in a railway signaling system. B and R designate the track rails of a railway, which rails are divided by 1nsulated joints 22 to form a block section through which trafiic normally moves in the direction indicated by the arrow. G is a source of alternating signaling current connected to transmission mains 23 and 24.. Signaling current is supplied from these mains to the track rails of the track section by means of wires 25 and 26 and a pole-- changer P, which pole-changer may be operated by any suitable means, such for example, as by the signal for the section next in advance, as is well understood in the art.

mraeve llt will be seen. from the foregoing that when the track section to which the relay is connected is unoccupied, the motor M will be continuously rotated in one' direction or the other, depending on the position of polechanger P. The relay contacts control a signal S which is adapted to indicate danger, caution, or clear. This signal is provided with a caution indication circuit, which is from battery 32, through wire 33, contact 15 1 l wire 34, operating mechanism of signal S, wire 35 to battery 32. The signal is also provided with a clear indication circuit which is from battery 32,

through wire 33, contact 1514, wire 36,

operating mechanism of signal S, and wire 35 to battery 32. The operation of the system thus shown is as follows: Inasmuch as the track section is occupied by a car or train W, winding 2 of motor M is deenergized so that the motor is at rest. Both relay contacts are therefore open, so that signal S indicates danger. When the car or train W passes out of thetrack section, pole-' changer P will be in such position that the currents in motor windings 2 and. 2 will have such phase relation as to cause contact 153-14 to be closed, thus closing the caution indication circuit for signal S. When the car or train passes out of the track section in advance of'the section shown in the drawing, pole-changer P will be reversed. thus reversing the direction of rotation of motor M and so closing contact 15-44; this closes the clear indication circuit for signal S so that this signal then changes to the clear indication.

Referring now to Fig. 2, the relay here shown is similar to that shown in Fig. 1

except in the following particulars. The centrifugal device C in this form comprises two rods 4* and 4 projecting in opposite directions from the shaft 6 and attached to this shaft on opposite-sides of the axis of rotation of the yoke 3. The rods 4i and 4* carry the weights 5 and 5 respectively. The crank arm 7 is in this instance attached to the shaft 6 in the axis of rotation of the yoke 3.- This crank arm 7 is pivotally connected to the link 8, the lost motion or pinand-slct device being omitted. Conse' quently, .it will be seen that the centrifugal device C is in this'form biased to exactly the intermediate position by the counterweighting device acting on the contact bar 11.

In Fig. 2 the means for initially swinging thecentrifugal device away from its intermediate positioncomprises a ring 38 provided with a plurality of teeth 39 which cooperate with a projection 37 carried by the weight 5. The ring 38 is non-rotatably mounted with respect to yoke 3, the mounting as here'shown comprising an arm 40 attached to the ring and also to a shaft 41 that "the projection 37 engages one of the teeth 39 when the centrifugal device C occupies itsintermediate position, but that this projection 37 passes out of engagement with I these teeth shortly after the centrifugal device is swung away from its intermediate position.

The operation of this form of relay is as follows:

When the motor M is at rest, the contact bar 11 and the centrifugal device 0 are biased to the intermediate position by the counterweighting device, this position of the centrifugal device being such that rotation of the bracket 3 will produce no centrifugal action tending to swing the centrifugal device on its horizontal or pivotal axis.

As soon as rotation of yoke 3 begins, the 'centrifugal device will be swung in one direc tion or the other, depending on the direction of such rotation, because of the engagement of projection 37 with one of the teeth 39. The centrifugal device is then swung farther in the same direction due to centrifugal action, and so operates the contacts in the same manner as hereinbefore explained in connection with Fig. l.

The reason for the pivotal mounting of the ring 38 is to prevent the possibility of dead-locking the relay due to the centrifugal device coming to rest with the projection 37 directly under one of the teeth 39. Tn such event the ring 38 is merely raised out of its normal position, and when the yoke vice in Fig. 2 is mounted in yoke 3. The link 8 may be used to control contacts and to bias the centrifugal device to an intermediate position in the same manner as in the preceding views.

The yoke 3 is not rigidly connected with the motor M, as in the preceding views, but is mounted to rotate in ball bearings 43, supported in a fixed part 46,0f the framework of the relay. The rotor 1 of motor M is connected with a vertical shaft at which passes upwardly through a central aperture in the yoke without touching the same, and which carries at its upper end a member l5 having a projection 45* which coacts with a shoulder 47 on the inside'of the yoke. It

will be seen, therefore, that when the shaft fat is rotated, it causes rotation of the yoke,

but that upon reversing the direction of rotation of the shaft it can rotate through nearly a complete revolution with respect to the yoke before again engaging the shoulder 47 on the latter. I

The member 45 also carries a block 45*, which revolves in the path of weight 5 when the centrifugal device is in or near its intermediate position, and which is provided with oppositely disposed inclined faces adapted to engage this weight. The relation between the block 45*, the shoulder 47, and the projection 45- is such that when the member 45' is about to drive the yoke, the block 45 engages the weight 5 before the projection 45 engages the shoulder 17. Thus it will be seen that when the yoke is to be rotated, the centrifugal device is first initially swung on its pivotal axis in the di rection corresponding to the direction of impending rotation of the yoke.

Although I have herein shown only three forms of relays embodying my invention, it is understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A relay comprising a centrifugal device biased to an intermediate position, means for rotating said device in one direction or the other, means for initially displacing said device in one direction or the other from said intermediate position depending on the direction of rotation, and contacts controlled by said centrifugal device and selectively operated according to the direction of rotation of said device.

2. A relay comprising a yoke, means for rotating said yoke in one direction .or the other, a centrifugal device pivotally mounted in said yoke and biased to substantially an intermediate position wherein rotation of the yoke produces no centrifugal action tending to swing said device about its pivotal axis, means for initially swinging said cen-- t-rifugal device about its pivotal axis in one direction or the other from said intermediate position according as said yoke is rotated in one direction or the other, and contacts controlled by said device and selectively operated according as the device is swung in one direction or the other from said intermediate position.

3. A relay comprising a yoke, means for rotating said yoke about an axis in one direction or the other, a centrifugal device pivotally mounted in said yoke on an axis at an angle to the axis of rotation of the yoke and biased to substantially an intermediate position wherein rotation of the yoke produces no centrifugal action tending to swing the centrifugal device about its pivotal axis, means for initially swinging said centrifugal device about its pivotal axis in one direction or the other from said inter mediate position according as said yoke is rotated in one direction or the other, and contacts controlled by said centrifugal clevice and selectively operated according as the device is swung about its pivotal axis in one direction or the other from said intermediate position.

4. A relay comprising a yoke, means for rotating said yoke in one direction or the other, an arm pivotally mounted intermediate its ends in said'yoke and carrying two weights on opposite sides of said pivotal point respectively, means for biasing said arm and weights to substantially-an intermediate position wherein rotation of the yoke produces no centrifugal action tending to swing them about their pivotal axis, means for initially swinging said arm and weights about their pivotal axis in one direction or the other from said intermediate position pivotally mounted to swing about one axis,

means for rotating said device in one direc tion or the other about another axis at an angle to the first, means for biasing said device to an intermediate position wherein rotation about the second axis produces no centrifugal action tending to swing said device about the first axis, means for initially swinging said device about its first axis in one direction or the other from said intermediate position according as it is rotated in one direction or the other about its second axis, and contacts controlled by said centrifugal device and selectively operated according as said device is swung in one direction or the other from its intermediate position about said first axis.

6. A relay comprising a centrifugal device pivotally mounted to swing about one axis, means for rotating said device in one direction or the other about another axis at right angles to the first axis,'means for biasing said device to an intermediate position wherein rotation about the second axis produces no centrifugal action tending to swing said device about the first axis, means for initially swinging said device about its first axis in one direction or the other from -said intermediate position according as it is rotatedin one direction or the other about its second axis, and contacts controlled by said centrifugal device and selectively operated according as said device is swung in one direction or the other from its intermediate position about said first axis.

7. A relay comprising a centrifugal device pivotally mounted to swing about one axis, means for rotating said device in one direction or the other about another axis at an angle to the first, means for biasing said device to an intermediate position wherein rotation about the second axis produces no centrifugal action tending to swing said de vice about the first axis, a non-rotatable member, a second member carried by said centrifugal device for engagement with said non-rotatable member when said device is in or near said intermediate position whereby said device is initially swung about its first axis from said intermediate position in one direction or the other according as said device is rotated in one direction or the other about its second axis, and contacts controlled by said centrifugal device and selectively operated according as said device is swung in one direction or the other from its intermediate position about said first axis.

8. A relay comprising a centrifugal device pivotally mounted to swing about one axis, means for rotating said device in one direc tion or the other about another axis at an angle to the first, means for biasing said device to an intermediate position wherein ro tation about the second axis produces no centrifugal action tending to swing said device about the first axis, a circular non-rotatable rack; a pawl fixed to said centrifugal device and engaging with said rack when said deviceis in or near its intermediate position for initially swinging said device about its first axis in one direction or the other from said intermediate position according as said device is rotated in one direction or the other about its second axis, and contacts controlled by said centrifugal device and selectively operated according as said device is swung in one direction or the other from its. intermediate position about said first axis.

9. In combination, a centrifugal device biased to an intermediate position, means fOr rotating said device in one direction or the other, and means for initially displacing said device in one direction or the other from said intermediate position depending on the direction of rotation.

10. In combination, a centrifugal device pivotally mounted to swing about one axis, means for rotating said device in one direction or the other about another axis at an angle to the first, means for biasing said device to an intermediate position wherein rotation about the second axis produces no centrifugal action tending to swing said device about the first axis, and means for initially swinging said device about its first axis in one direction or the other from said intermediate position according as it is rotated in one direction or the other about its second axis.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

SAMUEL M. LUCAS. 

